Suffolk Police launch week of action against knife crime

Operation Sceptre, the national week of action against knife crime, takes place between Monday 11 March and Monday 18 March and is proactively supported by Suffolk Constabulary.The operation highlights the risks that carrying a bladed weapon can bring, as well as targeting offenders who use and carry knives.

Officers from across Suffolk will use intelligence-led deployments, weapons sweeps and high-visibility patrols to target and disrupt offenders who carry and use knives. This is part of ongoing work with partners to tackle crime gang and associated gang activity.

Knife amnesty bins across the county give people the opportunity to dispose of knives and blades safely. Since the Bin a Blade campaign was launched in 2011, well over 22,000 bladed items have been deposited. A new knife amnesty bin is being installed near the junction of Stricklands Road and Ipswich Street in Stowmarket on Monday 11 March.

Three knife bins are located in Ipswich (outside the Fire Station, Queen’s Way and Bramford Road) and at police stations in Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, Mildenhall, Sudbury and Haverhill.

Superintendent Kerry Cutler said: “Young people face all sorts of pressures and therefore family, friends and role models are an important influence in their lives.

“Having a conversation with them about the dangers of carrying a knife may be difficult but talking and listening is critical to finding a solution to the growing problem we have seen nationally around knife crime.

“Simply listening and giving time to a young person can encourage them to think about their decisions and behaviour.

“Suffolk Constabulary is continuing to working closely with the Localities and Partnership Team within Suffolk County Council in schools and colleges to educate on the dangers of carrying a knife.

“There is a revitalised programme of educational inputs delivering knife crime awareness messages alongside advice and guidance to children and young people across the county.”

Suffolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore said: “Operation Sceptre gives the constabulary an opportunity to raise awareness of knife crime and also give people an opportunity to deposit blades safely – I fully support this work.

“Awareness of the dangers of carrying a blade of any sort is crucially important and I would implore all parents to talk to their children about the dangers of knife crime by #HavingTheConversation.

“Knife crime is a growing problem here in Suffolk and it’s got to stop. Carrying a knife just doesn’t make you safe and sadly, as we all know, it can lead to dreadful consequences.”

Anyone with information on knife crime in their local community is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 101, or pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency, always dial 999.